Every so often a new miracle product overtakes the wellness space, and recently it seems like there’s one thing outshining all the rest.
This time, however, it’s a little more controversial.
For years we’ve heard about the benefits of cannabis and its byproducts. The oils extracted from the cannabis plant are used for a multitude of reasons, claiming benefits ranging from curing chronic pain to improving skin.
The two oils often lauded for reaping such rewards are CBD and hemp oil, and though it might seem like they’re the same, there is actually a big difference between the two.
While CBD is extracted from the cannabis plant itself, hemp oil is extracted from the seeds. Because of these different extractions, the composition of each oil is quite different. Where CBD contains minuscule amounts of THC — the psychoactive chemical in cannabis that results in a high — hemp oil doesn’t.
So what exactly is hemp oil then? How (and why) do people use it?
Keep scrolling to learn more, and find out where you can buy some yourself if your interest has been piqued.
What is hemp oil?
Other than the fact that it comes from a cannabis seed, what exactly is hemp oil? Medical News Today explains: “Hemp seed oil comes from the small seeds of the Cannabis sativa plant. The seeds do not contain the same levels of compounds as the plant itself, but they still have a rich profile of nutrients, fatty acids, and useful bioactive compounds.”
Just like a number of other seed and nut oils, hemp seed oil is cold-pressed— quite literally by pressing hemp seeds together. You can think of hemp oil as something similar to flaxseed oil or untoasted sesame oil. Though they might seem similar, hemp oil is not to be confused with hash oil, an illegal cannabis concentrate containing THC.
Benefits of hemp oil
Because of the high concentration of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in hemp oil, there are many benefits to adding a little into your daily routine, according to The Spruce Eats. Because of these essential nutrients, the oil helps your skin hair and nails stay healthy, in addition to reducing inflammation and improving heart health.
As a cooking ingredient, hemp oil also contains less saturated fat than olive oil making it a good swap in certain instances. Though it can’t handle much heat, swapping cold hemp oil in uncooked recipes, such as salad dressing is a good idea.
In addition to providing nutritional benefits when eaten, hemp oil can also be used topically to treat a number of ailments. According to Healthline, using the oil directly on the skin can treat inflammation, moisturise, treat dermatitis, and even provide anti-aging properties.
With the relatively cheap price point, buying a bottle of hemp oil to use in food and on your skin might be a worthy investment.
Where to buy hemp oil
As it is completely legal, hemp oil is relatively easy to find in Australia. Here are a number of options in a variety of different forms, from capsules to cold-pressed oil depending on your needs.
- 13 Seeds Hemp Seed Oil, $29.95 @ 13 Seeds
- Hemp Foods Organic Cold Pressed Hemp Oil, $29.95 @ Nourished Life
- Nature’s Way Hemp Oil 100% Pure 1000mg 60 Capsules, $20.00 @ Woolworths